LOCAL FOOD SHOPPING

Don’t miss the weekly markets if you’re around for them. But if not, don’t worry, there are plenty of other excellent local options:

Patisseries

Patisserie Ayrole is best-in-class and the inventors of the ruby red Tarte Vigneronne - which is a local delicacy made from thin slices of apple set in a Chinon wine jelly, with a slightly caramelised mille-feuille base (delicious - try it!). You can’t go too far wrong with anything from here though (5 Rue Neuve de L’Hôtel de Ville). Fournil du Chateau - albeit a boulangerie and not a patisserie - has great, more rustic puds in mini format only. Order a day in advance if you want things in a larger size.

Cheese

For wonderful French cheese, look no further than the relatively new Laiterie Gilbert, tucked away in the far corner of Place Hofheim. They have a good selection of local and regional cheeses as well as all the classics. (There is also an excellent cheese truck that comes to town for the Thursday market.)

Biocoop (very close to us) also sells some great cheese too as well as locally produced watercress.

Charcuterie

You have to go further-a-field than Chinon to find one, but it’s worth the short 20-minute drive to Azay-le-Rideau, where you will be delighted by Hardouin and their renowned charcuterie. Stop for lunch in town, (try L’Épine) and then wander around the Château d’Azay (read our page here for more details on it).

Butchers

Boucherie Martin in Chinon (11 Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau) has a good selection of meat (open Monday-Saturday 8am-1pm; 3pm-7pm and Sunday 8am-1pm. Closed Mondays). There is also Ondet, opposite Cafe des Arts. However, the star of the show is our exceptional, family-run butcher in Huismes, which is very close to La Fuye, called Boucherie Beugnet (open 8:45am-1pm; 3:30pm-7pm Monday, Thursday-Saturday; Wednesday 08:45am-1pm; 4:40pm-7pm and Sunday 9am-12:30pm). He is regionally renowned.

For more info on the charming little hamlet of Huismes, read our page on it here.

Fruit & Veg

Les 4 Saisons (on the roundabout towards La Roche-Clermault) is over on the other side of the river. This has quite a following. Terre Y Fruit (23 Rue René Cassin) is larger and has a great choice of both fruit and veg plus local, organic milk and a small selection of cheese.